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Complexity
Thinking Complexity

Thinking Complexity

Curriculum

4 Sections
36 Lessons
30 Hours

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Chapter 1 - Introducing complexity
Hello everybody! Welcome to the first chapter of our “thinking complexity” class. In this chapter we will be looking at what we mean by complexity, why we sometimes have so much trouble dealing with it and how a systems perspective can help us better comprehend complex situations. As we go we will speak a little latin, discover the butterfly effect and meet a French philosopher and an English scientist. Let's get to it :)
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Chapter 2 - Thinking in systems
Welcome to chapter 2. In this chapter you will learn more about feedback: a key concept in systems and complexity theory. We will see that many natural, social and business phenomena are driven by reinforcing and balancing feedback. We wrap-up the chapter with a case study on obesity. Unit 8 explains how you can use free online software to tell and share the systemic story of a complex situation. Throughout the chapter we will talk about fashions, swarms and stampedes, we will play checkers and boil a frog. Sounds interesting? Let's get started :)
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Chapter 3 - Mapping the dynamics of complexity
Welcome to chapter 3. In this chapter we will study accumulations and non-linear relationships in complex systems. We explore how they contribute to both the speed of change over time and the unexpected and often frustrating behaviors we observe in complex situations such as thresholds and tipping points. Bonus unit: Unit 4 explains how you can use free online software to simulate the behavior of a complex situation. This unit is optional. At the end of the chapter we look at the complex problem of climate change. Let's get started!
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Chapter 4 - Living with complexity
Welcome to chapter 4 There is a common adage that “History does not repeat itself, but it rhymes”, and this is also true of systemic structures. Did you know that the structure that underlies a school yard fight is similar to that behind a commercial price war or an armed conflict between two nations? We will see that there are a small number of systemic stories that can be found at work in a number of different situations in the real world. They will help us quickly understand a complex situation and find leverage points. We will also learn why management thought needs to evolve and move into the systems age. Along the way we will visit Rome, the South China Sea, Greece and Wall Street. Let's get to it!
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3.2 Nonlinearities, butterflies and chaos

3.2 Nonlinearities, butterflies and chaos

Key Points

Relationships between variables in a system can be linear or nonlinear. The most common type of relationship is nonlinear.
The output of a nonlinear system is not directly proportional to the input.
Nonlinearities make systems particularly difficult to predict: we have to understand the behavior of the effect variables across different levels of cause.
Feedback, accumulations and nonlinear relationships make up complex nonlinear feedback systems.
The butterfly effect means that a small change in the initial condition of a system such as the flapping wings of a butterfly, could cause a chain of events leading to large-scale phenomena.
Sensitivity to the initial starting conditions of a model is a characteristic of “chaotic” behavior.
Complex and chaotic systems may be unpredictable but they are understandable.

1. Watch the video

Additional materials

Optional reading : “The meaning of the butterfly – why pop culture loves the ‘butterfly effect,’ and gets it totally wrong“. We’ve all heard at some time of the butterfly effect. Why do we like this concept so much? This entertaining article explains why
Video sources and bibliography. The web sites, attributions and sources cited in the video “Nonlinearities, butterflies and chaos”.
The video transcript.

Quiz 3.1

Quiz 3.2

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